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HTC Announces Vive Pro VR HMD Price and Release Date, Preorders Live

The upgraded VR headset can be in your hands sooner than you think.

Chris Jarrard

March 19, 2018 9:50 AM

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HTC unleashed its Vive VR headset system onto the market back in April of 2016 and, along with the Oculus Rift, provided the world’s first taste of serious virtual reality immersion. Other implementations of VR had been popping up since the mid-1990s, but the spring of 2016 is when the tech hit the mainstream with the goods to back up the hype. Almost two years later, HTC is ready to release the next-generation Vive head mounted display (HMD). The HTC Vive Pro will begin shipping on April 5 and will set you back $799.

First unveiled at CES 2018, the HTC Vive Pro gives a massive increase in resolution over the original Vive, offering a resolution of 2880x1600. This represents a 78% jump over the original Vive. The displays in the headset use OLED technology instead of LCD, allowing for faster response times and greater contrast. Numerous changes have been made to enhance the comfort and fit of the unit and it also comes with an integrated set of noise-cancelling headphones. The Vive Pro will support SteamVR Tracking 1.0 and 2.0, allowing existing Vive customers to use the upgraded headset with the original controllers and base stations.

Included in today’s announcement is the news that the original HTC Vive VR kit will see a price reduction of $100, bringing the cost down to $499. This reduced price still gets buyers a two-month subscription to Viveport, a buffet-style VR content package. Also included is a voucher for Fallout VR.

HTC revealed that all customers who purchase the Vive Pro HMD before June 3 will receive a complimentary six-month Viveport subscription. Pre-orders for the VIve Pro begin today. You can find out more about the Vive Pro or pre-order the unit at Vive.com. You can catch our exclusive hands-on impressions of the Vive Pro here.

Chris Jarrard

Contributing Tech Editor

Chris Jarrard likes playing games, crankin' tunes, and looking for fights on obscure online message boards. He understands that breakfast food is the only true food. Don't @ him.